Commencement Speech: Spelman College

A commencement speech consists of several aspects in context, wisdom, and advice supported by someone notable. While providing opportunities for graduating class students to obtain a source of encouragement and hope. Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, delivered an effective commencement speech at an all female institution— Spelman College. She expressed how judgments and stereotypes should not determine ones future or goals. This was demonstrated by examples of ethical, pathos and logical techniques. Michelle Obama demonstrated ethos by explaining the challenges that one may face in a world full of diversity. She referred back to history in order to persuade the audience. To embrace the open opportunities for growth culturally and academically.
Obama presents pathos by stating the fact that Spelman college did not start off as a it did today. Resources were scarce to students, making learning tough. Through this she was able to create a sympathetic approach toward the community. During the launch of the liberal arts college, it was evident that the foundation was struggling to stay afloat. As, Ms. Obama stated, “their teachers started with nothing but a couple of bibles, notebooks, and pencils. Often the stove was so smoky and the lights were so poor that students could barely see their teachers”. Compared to the progress gained over all toward the college, there has been drastic changes made to the structure of the education system. It has suffered in the past but while also considering the location of the college. The southern part of the United States, Atlanta, Georgia, which received conflicts on its own. To address the complications that Women received while trying to obtain their education at Spelman. There were also other everyday life factors that contributed to the difficult task. Ms. Obama states that in relations to her life, “some of you may have grown up like me, in neighborhoods where few had the chance to go to college, where being teased for doing well in school was a fact in life”. In other words, she directs the attention of the audience to inform them that Society used to consist of negativity and very little advocates. But besides that, women still
She takes the time to inform the audience about its background, The Spelman Story. While demonstrating logical points. Ms. Obama emphasizes that the only way to really embrace the accomplishments of the college is to know about its history. As she goes on to share, “The story began 130 years ago about 10 miles down the road where we are today. By now all of you know the details about how two white women from up north came here to Atlanta to establish the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary. They started out in a dank church basement loaned to them by a kindly preacher named father quarrels. In their first class they had just 11 students, many of whom were former slaves”. Based off of the statistics stated in the speech. It is clear that education was important to those unfortunate and the foundation of the school was created from nothing and the growth is unexplainable. The legacy of the college lead to several other opportunities among women of all races. Also while presenting the legacy of Spelman, Ms. Obama also informed the audience that at one point people would say that their were such things as being too old to receive an education.“It was said that at the ages of 56 and 48, these women were too old” Then she goes on to say, “there were so many things they said women couldn’t so and blacks couldn’t do, every defeat had to be a challenge”. The strength demanded of these women were extreme. But as a